This ruined complex at the heart of Swindon’s Old Town is central to the town’s history. It has been a Corn Exchange, Town Hall and dance hall at various periods, before falling into disuse. Many redevelopment proposals have come and gone, while the building continues to deteriorate. Urgent action is needed to save this historic and imposing building from being lost forever.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘Swindon is now a Heritage Action Zone, and this building is one of several prominent historic buildings in Swindon that should be a priority. An imaginative and sensitive scheme is needed to return the complex to its place at the heart of the town’s life.’

Photos here.

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Photo Credit: Adrian Turner with permission to share.

The striking Grade I-listed Shadwell Court in Norfolk is an impressive gothic country mansion. Shadwell Lodge (as it was originally known) was initially built in 1715, but was extended and remodelled out of all recognition in 1840 by Edward Blore and again in 1857-60 by SS Teulon. It has been empty since the mid 1990s and is owned by a member of the Dubai ruling family. It has extensive roof problems and has long been deteriorating.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of  The Victorian Society, said: ‘Shadwell Court’s owner can easily afford to look after this important building properly. This major country house has been neglected for far too long and it will be a scandal if it isn’t put right soon.’

Photos here.

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Photo: Ian Tatlock for The Victorian Society.

The Grade II-listed Pelican Works building in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham was built for Thomas Wilkinson of Sheffield as an electroplating works, and the company was noted for its cutlery production. The elegant frontage part of the red brick building is like a small Italian Palazzo, with the sculpture of a Pelican –the company crest – placed above the central main entrance. It is a significant landmark on one of the main thoroughfares of the Jewellery Quarter conservation area. Currently only the frontage part of the building is apparently occupied by a fashion company and the structures appear to be generally increasingly neglected. In May 2019 there was a serious collapse of part of the Hockley Street shopping range, which closed the road, and part of this rear range has been demolished on safety grounds. This could be reinstated, but little seems to be being done at present to secure the future of this extraordinary building, and other recent collapses at historic factory buildings in the Quarter, including a tragic loss of life on another site, mean that we are extremely concerned that the Pelican Works is currently at risk.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘The Jewellery Quarter, one of Birmingham’s most loveable areas, combines increasing development pressure with some very derelict historic buildings. The Pelican Works is a prominent symbol of the area, and it must be repaired before more of it collapses.’

Photos here.

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Photo Credit: Queensbury Tunnel Society.

Queensbury Tunnel is a disused railway tunnel that connects Holmfield and Queensbury in West Yorkshire, England. The now rapidly deteriorating tunnel symbolises the irreplaceable infrastructure legacy left to us by the Victorians. Built by the Great Northern Railway, it was the longest tunnel on the company’s network at the time of its opening in 1878. It is currently abandoned and flooded with water, and is at the centre of a heated debate between campaigners. The campaigners want the tunnel restored to be a cycle path, whereas the Department for Transport (DfT) wants to fill in sections of the tunnel with concrete and then leave it to collapse. We hope it will be used to give new life to the communities it connects rather than being lost forever.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘Queensbury Tunnel could be the heart of a new transport revolution, bringing cyclists and tourists to this part of Yorkshire. If it is filled-in this irreplaceable asset will be lost for ever. Bath’s Two Tunnels cycleway has been a triumphant success and there is no reason why Yorkshire – now the beating heart of British cycling – couldn’t do the same.’

Photos here.

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Photo Credit: Ian Tatlock for The Victorian Society.

The future of this Manchester landmark hangs in the balance. The Hulme Hippodrome opened its doors on 10th October 1901 as a spectacular venue. Originally named the Grand Junction Theatre, the ornate theatre was recently sold at auction on 18 May for £325,000. The building is an important community building of social, historical and architectural significance, and currently stands in a very poor state of repair and facing an uncertain future.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘There is nothing sadder than a shuttered theatre. Central Manchester’s increasing prosperity has not yet spread to Hulme, which cannot afford to lose assets such as this splendid building.’

Photos here.

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The former church of St Luke was designed by the distinguished architect George Frederick Bodley and built from 1892-3. It was declared redundant over thirty years ago and has since served as builders’ storage. The interior of this church is where its significance lies. This is one of only three examples of churches designed by Bodley with a double nave under a single roof, separated by a tall, slender central arcade. It is extremely unorthodox and highly inventive, and the result is remarkable. A new use is clearly required for this highly significant building, one that respects the extraordinary nature of its interior.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘This is a really unusual church of great architectural interest, by one of the greatest architects of the period. It is far too good to be lost, and its importance lies predominantly in its interior, making subdivision impossible. Public bodies and Warrington Council need to give serious thought on how to save this architectural jewel.’

Photos here.

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A derelict Arts and Crafts style pub in Croydon, South London. This pub is permanently closed, despite many planning applications. Built by Croydon brewers Nalder & Colyer, this pub occupies a prominent position at the south end of Cherry Orchard Road, but has been closed for several years. In an area undergoing so much development, it is crucial that pieces of our heritage such as this are protected.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘Victorian pubs are closing all over the country and it is no surprise that this year there is one on our Top Ten Endangered List. A particularly intractable case, this is a building of great quality where continued pub use should be viable. The right owner is needed!’

Photos here.

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Photo: Everton Library in Liverpool was built in 1896 by Thomas Shelmerdine. Credit: Ian Tatlock.

When the impressive Everton Library opened in 1896 it was one of the earliest public libraries in Liverpool. It is Grade II listed on account of its architectural quality and its role in the development of Liverpool’s public library service. Everton Library has not been in use since 1999, there have been two failed schemes to develop it, which have failed to even touch the building. In recent years, the library has suffered severe vandalism including lead theft, resulting in extensive water damage. It is vital that a building of such enormous quality in an area that has suffered so much is saved.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘Liverpool is a city full of great district libraries, and Everton Library is probably the best. This fantastic building is a jewel, and the city can’t afford to lose it. The Florrie shows how buildings like this can be given new life.’

Photos here.

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Photo: Ian Tatlock for The Victorian Society.

On the outskirts of Chell in Staffordshire, stands an industrial monument of the utmost importance – the Chatterley Whitfield Colliery. The disused coal mine is considered to be the most comprehensive survival of a deep mine site in England from the industry’s period of peak production and it was the first colliery in the UK to produce 1,000,000 tons of saleable coal in a year. Following the closure of the mine, the buildings had served as a museum, which has long-since closed. The whole colliery site is now vacant and the buildings are in a very poor condition, it will need substantial public funding if it is to be rescued.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘The Industrial Revolution has left few more evocative sites than Chatterley Whitfield. Someone needs to think big here- King Coal was at the heart of our prosperity for centuries, and this complex is far too important to be lost.’

Photos here

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Photo Credit: Tom M.

In a small town in south Wales stands this historic former school building that lies derelict and under threat from demolition.

Christopher Costelloe, Director of the The Victorian Society, said: ‘Cowbridge School is a beautifully crafted building, solid, handsome and capable of being reused. Its thoughtless demolition would be a huge blow to the town. Many other Victorian school buildings are in a similar position – these buildings can and should be reused.’

Photos here.

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